RALEIGH, N.C. - Winners of three in a row, the Carolina Hurricanes will aim to make it four when they host the Chicago Blackhawks this evening.
To do so, they'll have to overcome the loss of Eric Robinson, who left Monday's game with an upper-body injury and will be "out for an extended period," as Rod Brind'Amour revealed after Wednesday's practice. In his absence, Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who had been the team's healthy extra up front, slotted back in next to Mark Jankowski and William Carrier at Wednesday's practice.
The Canes also remain without their highest-scoring defenseman, Shayne Gostisbehere. Brind'Amour said on Wednesday that he's hopeful the blueliner will resume skating soon, but in the meantime, Joel Nystrom figures to continue working alongside Alexander Nikishin on the blue line.
Between the pipes, Frederik Andersen will look to help the Canes pick up (at least) a point for the fourth straight start, having gone 2-0-1 in his last three outings. Coming off a sterling 29-save showing in New Jersey last Saturday, Andersen will look to continue his positive momentum versus a team he is 2-0-0 against as a Hurricane.
Tonight's Projected Lineup...
Forwards
Svechnikov - Aho - Jarvis
Hall - Stankoven - Blake
Ehlers - Staal - Martinook
Carrier - Jankowski - Kotkaniemi
Defense
Slavin - Chatfield
Miller - Walker
Nikishin - Nystrom
Starting Goaltender
Andersen
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Injuries
Shayne Gostisbehere (Lower-Body Injury | Day-To-Day)
Pyotr Kochetkov (Hip Surgery | "Likely Out For The Year" as of Dec. 29)
Charles Alexis Legault (Hand Injury | Out 3-4 Months From Nov. 11)
Noah Philp (Concussion Protocol | No Timetable For Return)
Eric Robinson (Upper-Body Injury | Out "For An Extended Period Of Time" as of Jan. 21)
Scratches
Mike Reilly
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PP1: Aho, Ehlers (Staal), Jarvis, and Svechnikov with Nikishin
PP2: Blake, Hall, Jankowski and Stankoven with Miller
Jordan Staal has been taking the faceoffs with the first power play unit. If he wins it, he'll stay on the ice. When the puck comes out of the zone, he jumps off, and Nikolaj Ehlers jumps on.
